Food handling apparatus



1945- c. o. MARSHALL 2,380,354

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March'2l, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l I E57. I Char/9'5 0 Marsha INVENTQR A ORNEYS y 1945- c. o. MARSHALL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1942 4 SheQItSP'SheGt 2 Char/e5 Q Marsha I INVENTQR BY A TORN'EYS Jui 10, 1945.

C. O. MARSHALL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-sheaf 3 Filed March 21, 1942 0. Ma'rJ/w/ INVENTOR (bar/es AEEQRNEYS u 1945. c. o. MARSHALL 2,380,364

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z (haw/es Q Marsha INVENTOR AT ORNEYS off ;the small nodules of feeding pressure of the wormforces additional meat against the plate and thelrotating knife continues to cut off the nodules thusforrned so in'al I worm. They" do not extend Patented July 10, 1945 r v Fool) HAND ING APPARAT S I Cha rlcs OQMarshall, Toledo, Ohio; assignor Toledo Scale Company, Toledo, Ohio; a corpo I .ration of NewJersey Application March 21, 1942,

SerialNol435,60

This. invention relatesfto food handling appatus; and more particularly to machines :f.orchop-' pingmeatu In chopping m'eat it vis desirable thatthe meat be cutintosmall pieces rather than shredded or torn-.f When the fibers of the meat are shredded or torn th meat juices are forced out of the .,meat and consequently th flavor is partially meatfare st. This-is caused bythe action of the feeding means: with which. standard: meat choppers are equipped. Thisfeeding means usu ally consists of a; single feeding worm which extends through a cylindrical hollow. chamber having fluted walls. The meat, is insertedinto one end of thechamber and rotation ofthe feeding wor'mfor screw on itslongitudinalaxis feeds it throughthe chamber and against aperforated plate or plates 'whichclose the otherend of the I chamber. The pressure exerted jonthe meat by theifeeding worm forces itagainst. th face ofthe perforated plate and causes small protuberances 10f meat to extendinto the perforations. Arotary knife, mounted on .either inside or outside the plate, revolves cutting meat; vThe continued that? te'ndril-like" portions of 'meatextrude throughfeach of the perforationsin. the plate.

One of themajor difficulties .with the single worm type vof feeding device-is the fact that unspoiled and someof the nutritional values in the 7 the end of the feeding screw .1

less some Qmeans'fis provided tolcreatepositive .fri ction betweenthe' walls of the chamber and the n'1 e at.'l )eir g fed by the worm, such meat as enters I the thr'e ds of the worm 'willremain, there and will revolve aroundwith the worm without being fed forward to the 'In' 'o'rder'to prevent meat from, :being. carried around and 'around in the threads,'the chamber is usually constructed with a fluted inner wall; The

flutes may T extend long1tudinal1y' of the chamber,

fbe spifraled around v s most any relationtothe spiral thread of the threads' because the diameter between the flutes,

the inner wall of the chamber down 1 between the chopping end ,of'. the chamber.

wardl'y by the worm.

meat,-

high: grade meat high grade meat will'rexnainin the-machineto around the cylinder and cause it to be f efld' for- This obstruction of rotary'movement of the meat is necessary in order to cause feeding but *hasa detrimental effect on' the quality of the choppedrproduct since 'it tends to rend and tear the meat" apart which causes the 'juices to be forcedout of thefibers. The flutes, in cooperation withtthe worm .create a second undesirable result. Pressureto feed the-meat through thechamber often"musti be supplied .by vmeans of a manually operated tamper which forces. the meat into the'enterin'g bores of the worm chamber. Ofcourse when the last of themeat'has entered thewormchamber it is impossible to apply external pressureand the meat isucarried forward :only by the action of the fluted interior walls-and'the feeding worm.

yIf', for example, one pound ofmeat is desired to .be chopped, as much as one-quarter'of a pound of meat-may remain in the space between. the threads of the Worm andinth longitudinally eXtendingspace-between the flutes on the interior surface of the chamber. iji'his meat 'Willremain in the device until .a. second: chopping operation is carried-through at which time the meat re- .maining. from the prior chopping; operation will 1 be forced out ofthe perforated plate ahead of the meat being chopped in thesecond operation. I ;This residue of meat would .notbeimportant if the meat chopper were used 1 steadily. to prepare only one grade or quality of meat. (However, in

imost butcher shops manyvarietiesof meat are sold and'it may bethat'a customergdesiringto purchase chopped high grade meat willfollow a ,customerwho has purchased choppeddogmeat. In this event,.the one-quarter-pound cf oor-gr d hich remains behind in the convolutions of the Worm andchamber, will be 'mixed withthe being chopped andpart pf; the

mixwith the nextlot'tha t passes through.

. parallellyto the axis of the worm, or theymay .the meat,it usually The unpositive feeding action of single worm oonyoluted chamber meat choppers has yet an otherdisadvantage. In order to thoroughlyjchop 1s fed through the machine a I "secondrtime. Since, in the firsthchopping the transversely across the chamber, must be kept "slightly larger than the transverse diameter of the threads that the worm will rotate in the "chamber, The flutes are f constructed-so that their centrally extending edges, which arekept .meatbeing'fed .in relativelylarge lumps, the

thefiuteswill cause friction producing action of a .fair amount of pressure and a fairly positive ,quae sharp; present obstructions to any meat, which may have entered the fspace'between the feedQfl-Iowever, on the second cutthemeat is i already, chopped into quite smallparticles andis in somewhat mushy condition. "I'hus theiric tion action of the flutes is relatively ineffectual and that meat remaining in the worm and the flutes after the last of the meat has been forced into the entering bores of the chamber by means of the tamper is not fed forward at all but remains in the machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for comminuting or chopping meat or other products which employs positive feeding means and which will feed all of such product through the feeding chamber.

-It is another object of this invention to provide a chopping machine which will create its own feeding pressure in its feeding chamber and will feed th material being ground with the same positiveness whether such material is in small or large pieces or whether it is fibrous r mushy.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine for chopping meat or other commodity which will not rend the fibersof the meat and thus will not cause the juices to be forced out and will produce a chopped product containing the full flavor and nutritional value possessed by the commodity prior to grinding. l

Still another object of this invention is to provide a meat chopping machine having a pair of oppositely rotating feeding worms operating in a chamber having smooth walls in which the positive feeding action of the worms will clean the material being ground from the chamber and completely discharge such material into, and through, the perforated discharge plates of the device.

A further object of this invention-is to provide a double-worm meat-chopping machine with features to prevent the assembly of the machine with the two feeding worms in incorrect positions or to incorrectly assemble such parts as cutting knives and "perforated plates.

More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of device embodying the invention.

In'the drawings:

Fig. I is a view in elevation of the mechanism of a chopping machine embodying the invention,-

the cover therefor being shown in section.

Fig. II is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section, on a. greatly enlarged scale, of the operating portions of the device shown in- Fig. I, the view being taken substantially on the center line of one of the feeding worms as indicated by the line 11-11 of Fig. III.

Fig. III is a horizontal partly sectional view, taken substantially on the center line of the feeding worms. Fig. IV is a fragmentary view in elevation, certain parts being broken away and certain parts being shown in section, taken from the right end of Fig. II.

Fig. V is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line VV of Fig. II,

Fig. VI is a vertical sectional view of a compression ring adapted to be mounted on the extruding end of the chamber of the device and so 'shown in Fig. II. v

Fig. VII is a fragmentary elevational view of the end of the feeding chamber as it would appear with the compression ring, perforatedgplate and cutting knives removed.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary plan view of a modified perforated plate compression means, certain parts being broken away and certain parts being shown in section.

Fig. IX is a view in elevation, certain parts being broken away, taken from the right side of Fig. VIII.

Fig. X isa greatly enlarged fragmentary view, taken substantially on the line X-X of Fig. IX.

Fig. XI is a detailed fragmentary view of the knife retaining means employed in the modification of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. VIII.

Fig. XII is a plan view similar to Fig. VIII but of a second modification of the compression means.

Fig. XIII is a view similar to Fig. IX but of the modification of the device illustrated in Fig. XII.

Fig. XIV is a fragmentary view in elevation, taken from the side of that modification of the device shown in plan in Fig. XII.

Fig. XV is a ,view. similar to Fig. XII but of a third modification of the device employing two perforated extruding plates.

Fig. XVI is a view similar to Fig. XIII but taken from the right side of Fig. XV.

Fig. XVII is a view in elevation, certain parts being broken away, taken from the inside of the housing shown in Fig. XV and showing the two perforated extruding plates. I

Fig. XVIII is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on the line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. XVII These specific drawings and the specific description that follows merely disclose and illustrate the invention and are not intended to impose limitations upon the claims.

A main gear housing ID has a downwardly extending frame member I which is secured on the upper surface of a flared base |2.: The left end wall of the gear housing In has a centered bored boss I3 through which extends the end of ashaft M of a motor I5 which is bolted to anannular flange l6 of the housing ID. A helical pinion I1 is keyed to the end of the shaft l4 and secured thereto by means of a 'nut I8 threaded onto a reduced portion of the shaft l4 and awasher i9 located between the nut l8 and the pinion II. The pinion I1 is in mesh with a helical gear 2!] which is secured, by means of a set screw 2|, on a jackshaft 22 journaled in a combination thrust and radial bearing 23 which is located in a boss 24 of the housing In and in a second combination radial and thrust bearing 25 which'is' located in a flange 26 of a second gear housing 21 bolted to the other wall of the housing l0. The fiange 26 of the housing 21 is in line with a hole 28 in the wall of the-housing I0 through which hole the jackshaft 22 extends into thebearing 25.

A second helical pinion 29 is integral with the jackshaft 22 and is in mesh with a second helical gear 30 keyed on the end of a horizontal stub shaft 3| and secured thereto by means of a screw 32 and washer 33. The stub shaft 3| (see also Fig. III) is journaled in a combination bearing 34 which is located in a web 35 of the housing In and a sleeve bearing 36 which isinserted in a spider 31 of the second gear housing 21.

A helical pinion 38 is formed integrally with the stub shaft 3| and is in mesh witha similar helical pinion 39 which is an integral portion of a second stub shaft 40 journaled on the same horizontal plane and parallel to the stub shaft 3| in a combination bearing 4| and sleeve bearing 42 carried by the web 35 ,of the housing Hi and spider 31 of the second housing 21,

An oil filling plug 43 (Fig, II) is threaded into the wall of the second housing 21, an oil drain plug 44 is located in the bottom pump of themain housing In and an oil level plug 45 (Fig. III) is i 7 2,380,364 located at the side of thesecondgeairhousingis circular in shapefiA circular seat64, ,whichis 21;to permit filling; draining and level-testing of lubricating oilfor the variousgears, bearings and shaftslocated in the housings l and2L1 "Double oil seals .46 are located in the spider ,31: around the ends of the stub shafts 3| andf40=opposite .the bearings 34 and.4l','one ,of their felts being turned to retain oil within the gear housings ID v and 21 and the other oneof the felts being turned to prevent the ingress of any liquidinto-the gear housings I0 and-21 'and the dilution of the oil contained therein. J I

The inner surface of asleeve-like section 41 of the gear housing. 21, which surrounds the end of the spider 3I'through whichprojectthestub shafts 4| and 40,-is machined toreceive the machined outer surface of; a cylindrical section 48 of aworm chamber 49. The worm chamber 49 is secured in place with the cylindrical section .48 inside the sleeve-like sectionf4l. bymeans of a thumb screw 50 threaded through'the wall of the sleeve-like section 41 and engaged in a notch 5| in, the outer surface of the cylindricalsection 48.

The wormchamber 49 extends horizontally with two longitudinally intersecting bores having a vertical transverse cross section substantially like a figure 8 on its side (as can be seen in Fig. V). A vertically extending feeding tub'e52 is ,a portion of the worm chamber casting and'its' axial line intersects a line drawn parallel to the axis of the twin bores of the chamber. at a point laterally equidistant from such axis. A feeding tray 53 hand thread and the-- 'worm 51 a right-hand thread. The threads of the twoworms 56 and width of the 8 shaped interior of the worm cham v the end of the .8

worms.

at rightangles :to the axes ofthe worms-, 56 and 51; is machined in the 'end face of "thecircular flange 63, the maximum diameter of the'seat164 being just slightly greater than the 'maximum ber 49 (see Fig. III) A perforated circular plate 65 is'adapted to be located in the space created by the seat 64. The, outer edge of the plate65 is'circular but the perforations therein are'all located in an area cdextensivewith the-a'reaof shaped interior of: the worm chamber 49. I The perforations in the plate 65 (Fig.IV);preferably .havea hexagonal cross'section. These perforations may, of course, be circular-but the hexagonal shape is preferred because asubstan' tially'smaller amount ofmate'rial is left between the holes and consequently a greater openarea exists'in. the plate. The open area of the-plate is one factor controlling the maximum output of meat from'the machine and thus hexagonaliperforatio'ns give a greater output than circular perforations. I Two rotary knives 66 and 61 (see also'Fig; IV) are located at the ends of the feedi'ng 'wor'ms 56 and 51 respectively. Al squared socket 68 (Fig; 'VII) is cut at the center ofthe web of the -worm 56 and isadapted'to receive a squared shank 68 (Fig. III) of the knife 66. A rectangular socket 10, having alength greater and a'width smaller than one side of the squared socket 68,'is adapted to receive a rectangular shank H of theknife 61.- The two'sockets 68 and Ill, and the shanks 69am]. H respectively of theknives' 66 and which fit the assembly of the wrong knife'in eithersofzthe tions, as indicatedby the ar'rowsin Figs.'III and VII, and since the knives are cut so that their leading'edges scrape over the insidesurfaceofithe perforated plate'65,these knives would not oper- 51 are intermeshed and their pitch simultaneously becomes less and-less going'away from the ends of the worms located beneath thefeeding tube 52-.

- The two worms 56 and 51 are prevented from relative longitudinal translation by.mean"s ofv a pair of flanges 58 cut in the hubof the worm 5T adjacent the tenon 55 which are located one on each side of asingleflange 59 cut in thehub of the worm 56 near the squared tenon" 55. These inter'-.

locking flanges 58 and 59 arenecessaryto prevent one of the worms from screwingthe other out of'the worm chamber. In: addition; 'theout side diameter of the flanges 58 i largerithan the outside diameter of the flange 59'andthe inner diameters of twin intersecting bores'60, of a spider 6|," forming the inner end of the bores of the wo'rmchamber 49, correspond to thecutside diameters of .the flanges of the respective worm.

which should'be locatedlin that sideofthe'worm chamber 49. This difference in outside diameter. of the flanges and inside diameterj'of the-bosses in which they turn prevents theinsertionof -the flange '63 and extends slightly into the space ate if assembled inthe'wron'g worms and;therefore, such incorrect assembly must be prevented. A pin 12 (Figs. II and IV) is located in-the formed by the-seat 64. A notch 13 in the edge. of

the perforated plate 65, is adapted-tobe engaged by the pin 12 to correctly locate the plate 65 with its perforated sections in registration .With' the open end of the worm chamber; 5 i

Through eachof a pair'of ears 1'4 (FigsII and IV), which extend radially from the flange 63';

there is threaded a screw IS which is adjustable longitudinally of the worms '56. and 51. -A"pair of buttons 16 (Figs. III and IV) arelocated near the'edges of the perforated plate 65 on a hori zontal line passing through its center point. A

compression ring 11, havinga handwheel l8 con= structed integrallytherewith, has two longitudi nal openings 19 cut in 'its'frameif'l'he center slightly beveled between the openings 19 and forms cam surfaces 86 (Fig. VI) I .The compression ring is placed on thejend of theworm chamber. by holding it in a vertica'l position 'concentrically'with the ,lfl 'tnge 63. of the worm chamber andthen moving "it horizontally Since the worms turn in opposite 'direcv I the worm chamber 49a.

onto the end of the worm chamber, the ears 14 passing through the openings 19 until the buttons 16 are engaged by the inner surface of the compression ring adjacent the edges of the center opening. The plate is then given a sharp twist in-a clockwise direction to turn it into the position shown in Fig. IV and the action of the cams 80 forces the compression ring toward the rear-of the worm chamber and squeezes the perforated plate 65 against the knives 66 and 61 which are located in the sockets in the ends of the worms 56 and 51.

As the knives 6B and 61 get dull or wear into the surface of the perforated plate 65 either the knives or the plate may be ground off so that their cutting action will be restored. This, of course, results in the plate becoming gradually thinner and the knives gradually extendin a lesser distance from the ends Of the worms. Therefore, to compress the parts together, the ring 11 is turned further to the right and, later, the screws 15 are threaded further through the ears [4 to cause the compression ring to seat further on the flange 63.

Theshoulders of the sockets 68 and 10 are spherically-shaped as are those portionscf the knives 66 and 61 where the tenons 69 and H join the body of the knives. The tenonsfit loosely into the sockets which permits a slight rocking movement of the knives to compensate for unevenness in'the grinding or variations in thickness of the plate 65. Also, since the entire pressure exerted on the plate 65 by thecompression ring 11 is applied to the buttons 16, the plate 65 is free to rock through a slight vertical angle on the horizontal axis formed by the buttons 16. Similarly, the compression ring 11 being clamped against the two screws 15 only, it is free to rock through a slight horizontal angle on the vertical axes formed by the screws 15. The perforated plate is thus held in a gimbal-like mounting and is slightly rockable in any direction.

In Figures VIII, IX, X and XI there is illustrated a modification of the knife assembly and compression plate retaining means. Figure VIII is a fragmentary plan view of th end of a worm chamber 49a showing the ends of two worms 56a and 51a. The worm chamber shown in this figure differs from that illustrated in Figures II and III principally in the fact that (Fig. IX) its cross section is oval at its end rather than circular (Fig. VII). A shouldered seat 64a is cut in the edge of the worm chamber 49a and adapted to receive an oval-shaped perforated plate 65a. Th perforations in the plate occupy a section thereof equal in area to and in alignment with the bores of The perforated plate 65a is clamped in place in the seat 64a by means of two socketed screws Bla (Figs. IX and X) which are threaded into holes bored in the main casting of the worm chamber 49a. Two rotary knives 66a and 61a are engaged in sockets in the ends of the worms 56a and 51a; the knife 66a being engaged in a squared socket 68a of the worm 56a, and the knife 61a being engaged in a rectangular socket in the worm 51a.

The knife 66a (Fig. XI) has four cutting blades 82a and a bored hub 83a which is squared on its exterior surface and adapted to engage in the socket 68a. The knife 66a is held in place against the inner face of the'plate 65a by means of a socket-headed bolt 84a, which extends through a squared hole 85a in the plate 65a, bored on the axis of the worm 56a, and which is threaded into the end of a stub axle 86a. The stub axle 86a has a circular flanged head and a cylindrical por- 'tion which extends through thebore in the hub 83a of the knife. An antifriction washer 81a is located between the shoulder of the hub 83a'and the head of the stub axle 86a. A squared tenon 88a on theendof the stub axle 8611 is engaged in the squared hole a in the perforated plat 65a. The knife 61a is similarly constructed and is similarly secured to the perforated plate 65a.

The knife 66a is held securely against the inner surface of the plate 65a by the tightening action of the bolt 84a and the threaded inner bore of the stub axle 86a. The knives 66a and 61a are turned by the engagement of their squared hubs in the sockets .in the ends of the worms 56a and 51a and rotate on the stub axles 86a. The axles 86a are prevented from rotating by'their squared tenons which are engaged in the squared holes 85a in the plate 65a. When the knives are sharpened or the plate 65a ground smooth, the space created between their surfaces is taken up by tightening the socketed bolt 84a to draw the knives up against the surface of the plate 65a. The socket 681: in the worm 56a and the similar socket in the worm 51a are deep enough to allow for a sufiicient amount of longitudinal adjustment of the position of the knives to compensate for wearing and replacement.

In Figures XII, XIII'and XIV there is illustrated still another modification of the knife and perforated plate mounting means. In this embodiment of the invention the end of a worm chamber 49b is ovalin cross section (Fig. XIII) and has cut into its edge a seat 64b in which a perforated plate 65b is adapted to beseated. Two worms 56b and 51b are located in the inte rior of the worm chamber 49b and in the end of each of these worms there is located a squared (or rectangular) socket 68b'which receives a squared (or rectangular) tenon 69b of a rotary knife 66b (or 61b).

The perforated plate 65b is securely clamped in place by means of an oval compression ring 11b which fits over-the end of the worm chamber 491) and which has two arms 89b, one located'at the top and one at the bottom, extending inwardly over the edge of the perforated plate 65b. At the end of each of the arms 89b there is located a protuberance 90b which engages the outer face of the perforated plate 652). At each side of the compression ring 11b there is located an ear Slb which has a dimple 92b in its outer surface. The ears 9!!) are located on the horizontal center line of the wormvchamber 491). At each side of the worm chamber 491), and slightly removed from its end, there is located an ear 93b. A swinging clamp 94b is pivotally mounted on each of the ears 93b-by means of a screw 95b which extends through a vertical hole in the ear 93b and is threaded into the clamp 94?). The clamps 94b swing on a horizontal plane around in front of the ears 91b of the compression rin 11b and a horizontally extending thumb screw 96?) is threaded through each of them, the screws being engageable in the dimples 92b.

As the knives 55b and 561) are sharpened and the inner surface of the perforated plate 651) cut away the plate must be moved further into the seat 641) to press the knives firmly against its inner surface. This is taken care of by tightening the thumb screws 96?) to a greater degree. The protuberances 90b and the ends of the thumb screws 96?) form a gimbal" mounting for the perforated plate 65b which is permitted to pivot horizontally on the protuberances 90b and vertically on the ends of the set screws 96b to compensate forunevenness in the-grinding thereof, the sharp.-':

ening f the: knives; oritough portions f meat v which may force theirwayein between the cutting edges of'theknives andtheperforatedxplate. .1 :The'umodificatio'n rof the I invention shown in Figures :XV, XVI, XVII and iXVIII comprises awormschamber cat the end of which there are located two horizontally extending ears f 930, oneof these -ears-being'located a'teach side of the worm: chamberr Two worms 56c and 51c are cated inrtherinterior bore of the worm chamber 490. 'At the endvof each of thesworms 560 or 510 there is located a squared'tenon 910- which extends a through an aperture -98c in a coarse perforated plate ,990 having an 8 shapedperiphery and seated inia'seat 64c cut in the end oftheworm cham ber 490.1 On each of-the tenons ',9lc-"-there"is mounted a rotary-knife-66c (the knives inthis modification:being 'identicalh The knives 66c are: held in place onthe tenons -9'lc-'-'and against the surface of the -p1ate 99cbya fine perforated plate 65c'Whichis'squee'azed againstthe knivesby acompressionring 110.

. .The compression ringl'lc (Fig. XVI) :has a slot lllllcat each-side." The-slots lllllc are-adapted to-fit iover bolts l lllcwhich are threaded into the v ears 9300f the'worm housing 49c-.- Removable wrenches .I02c are usedto tightenthe bolts Nile and after tightening maybe removed from the headsof the bolts and replacedthereon in any one of. a plurality of positions so thatth'e wrenches will not extend in front of the perforations in the plate 650. I

The knives ific are shown -inpross section in Fig. XVIII and have a squaredcuttingedge H130 and a,-tapered following-edge -llll lc. The knives 66c rotate between-the coarse-perforated plate 99c and the fine perforated plate65c. Meat which is carried through the worm chamber by the worm is forced against the inner coarse plate 99c and portions thereof ektend through the large six-sided openings I050 in this plate; 'I 'hese portions-of meat'are sheared off the -main body by the cutting action of the edge -lll3c against the edges of the-holes. These smaller sheared-off portions of meat are pushed against atheinner surfaces of the fine perforatedplate B5c'and the nodules extending into the perforations 'are' oppositerendof said chamberya knife driven by ,each fofysaid.awormsadapted to sweep over the inner face of. said plate, means for'rotating said worms and: saidknives, and means for holding said plate againstsaid knives while allowing said plate to rock" to'.equalize the .pressure. on said knives. .7 V. l l

3. In a'device of theclass described, in combination; a chamber having two parallel longitudinally; intersecting smooth-walled bores; a feeding worm :rotatably journaled in each of said bores, said feeding worms eb'eing intermeshed, means on each of said worms'for preventing its insertioninto: the wrong one of the bores of said chamber, a perforated platelocated across the discharge end of said chamber, a revoluble knife drivingly connected to each' of .saidworms and adapted to scrape over theface of said perforated plate and means for rotating said'worms. 4. ma machinefor chopping meat, in combination, a chamber having two parallel longitudinally intersecting bores, one endof said two bores 1 being open, a pair ofintermeshed feeding worms located in said chamber and adapted to feed material toward suchopen end of said bores, a perforated plate removably held across such open 'said'platein position, apair of revoluble knives drivinglyconnected to saidworms and adapted tosweep over the faceofsaid'plate, means for adjusting-said plate longitudinally of said worms to compensate for wear'on' said knives andsaid plategsaid means allowing said'plate; to 1 rock to inserted in 'the wrong bore, said worms being adapted to feed material toward one end of said chamber, a" perforated plate across such end of said chamber, and a'rotary'knife drivingly connected to each of said worms and rotatable over the face of said plate, each of said knives being adaptedto be drivingly connected to only one of saidworms, e

6: In a machinefor comminuting material, in

combination, an elongated chamber having two longitudinally intersecting parallel bores, a pair of feeding worms rotatably journaled in said tion, a pair of intermeshed -feeding worms, an;

elongated chamber in which said worms'are parallelly and rotatably mounted, said chamber having two longitudinally intersecting parallel bores, a perforated plate'located across one end ofsaid two bores, said worms being adapted to feed material toward such end of said chamber, a -revolu-' ble knife drivingly mounted at the end of each of said worms and adapted tosweepover the face of said plate, means forrotatingsaid worms, and mounting meansfor'said plate which permit rocking movement of'said plate to equalize the pressure on 'sa'id'knives.

' 2."In-a-devi ce for. chopping meat, in combination, an elongated chamber havingtwo parallel longitudinallyintersecting'bores, a wormlocated in each'of said, bores, the threadsof said worms being intermeshed, a feeding opening at one end of said c zhamber, a "perforated plate across the chamber, each of said worms being rotated by one of a pair of meshed gears, a feeding inlet located in said'chamb'er-near one end thereof, radial flanges of different diameter near the butt end of said worms receivable in bosses of different diameter in said bores to prevent the placement of said wormsin the wrong ones of said bores,

I said worms being adapted to feed material toward that endofsaid chamber removed from said inlet, a perforated plate removably clamped over such output end of said chamber, a revoluble knife located adjacent a face of said plate at the end of each Worm and means to rotate said meshed gears.

- 7. In a device'for'choppin'g meat, in combina-v tion, a charnbensaid chamber comprising a pair of longitudinally intersecting parallel bores, a pair of intermeshed feeding worms located in said bores for feeding material toward one end of said chamber, a perforated plateacross such end of said chamber atright angles to theaxes of said worms, a stub axle nonrotatably secured to said plate coaxial-1y with each of saidworms, and a rotary knife journaled on each ofv said stub axles and drivingly engaged with the aligned one of said worms. I

8. Ina device. of the class described, in combination, a chamber, a pair of intermeshedoppositely rotatable feeding worms journaled in said chamber for feeding material toward an output,

end. of. said chamber, a socket in the end of one of said, worms, a dissimilar socket in. the. end of the other of said worms, a pair of rotary knives each having. a shank of conformation similar to one of said sockets in a. different one of said worms, said shanks fitting, said sockets loosely to allow slight rocking on the part of said knives, a perforated plate adjustably held at right angles.- to the axes of said worms across the output end of said chamber, said plate having two protuberanees on its outside face, diametrically opposed and located near its edges, and adjustable compression means, engaged with said protuberances for pressing said plate longitudinally of said worms against said knives and for moving said plate longitudinally of said worms to compensate for wear on said knives and said plate.

9. In a device for chopping meat, in combination, a chamber having two longitudinally inter-Q secting bores, each of said bores having a smooth interior, apair of intermeshedoppositely rotatable feeding worms, one of said worms being journaled in each of said bores, each bore and its associated. worm having coacting. means to prevent the other of said worms to be journaled in said bore, said worms being adapted to feed material toward an output end of said chamber, a pair. of rotary knives, means at the end of each of said worms for driving; only one of said knives, a perforated plate adjustable longitudinally of said worms and located across the output end of said chamber, said knives being adaptedv to sweep over a face of said plate, meansior compressing said plate against saidknives, and means for synchronously rotating said Worms.

10. In a machine for chopping meat, in combination, a casing having apair of longitudinally extending intersecting smooth-walled bores and a feeding port opening into said bores, a plate fitted across, said bores in a position spaced from said feeding port, said plate having a multiplicity of sharp edged perforations, a pair of. threaded shafts each rotatably journalled within. one of said bores, the threads of said shafts being intermeshed, said threaded. shafts and said bores being so: related as to constitute a pump capable, when bination, a casing having a pair. of longitudinally extending intersecting smoothewalled bores and afeeding port opening. into said bores, a plate fitted across said bores in a osition spaced from said feeding port, said plate having a multiplicity of sharp edged perforations, a pair of threaded shafts each rotatably journalled Within. one of said, bores, the threads of saidshaftsbeing intermeshed, said threaded shafts and said bores being so related as to constitute. a pump capable, when said shafts are rotated in synchronism, of forcing meat. into engagement with said plate with suflicient hydrostatic pressure to cause nodules of the meat pressed against saidplate to intrude. into said perforations, knives movable across the, inner surface of said plate and co-- operating with the sharp edges of said perforations to shear away saidnodules, and means for synchronously rotating. said-threaded shafts and for moving; said knives across said plates.

12. In a machine for chopping meat, in combination, a casing; having a :pair; of longitudinally extending intersecting smooths-walled bores and a feeding port. opening into said bores, a plate fitted across said bores in a position spaced from said feeding port, said plate having a multiplicity of sharp edged perforations, a pair of threaded shafts each rotatably joumal-led within one of said bores, the threads: of said'shafts being intermeshed, said threaded shafts and said bores being so related as to constitute a-pump capable, when said shafts are rotated in opposite directions and atv the same speed, of forcing meat into engagement with said plate with sufficient hydrostatic. pressure to cause nodules of the meat pressed against said plate to intrude into said perforations, knives movable over the surface of said plate and cooperating. with the sharp edges of said perforations to shear away said nodules, and means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions at the; same speed and for moving said knives over-said plates.

13. In. a machine for comminuting material comprising, an elongated chamber having. two parallel, intersecting longitudinal bores, a pair of intermeshed feeding worms of opposite hand rotatably journalled in said bores, and means for rotating said worms, inner ends of each of said bores having diiferentv diameters and .a radial flange on the inner endof each said worms, said radial flanges having; diameters corresponding to the diameter of-the bores into which said worms aretobe inserted.

14. In a machine for comminuting' material, in combination, an elongated chamber having two longitudinally intersecting parallel bores, a pair of feeding worms rotatably journalled in said chamber, apair of spaced radial flanges near the butt of one of said worms, a radial flange of different diameter near: the. butt of the other of. said worms, the last mentioned flange being located between the first mentioned flanges when said Worms are inserted in said-bores in operative position, whereby relative longitudinal movement of said; worms is prevented, said worms being adapted to feed material toward one end of said chamber, -a perforated plate removably clamped over such output end of said chamber, a revoluble. knife located-adjacent a face of said plate and. means torotate said. worms and said knife.

15. In a machine for comminuting' material, in combination. a. chamber comprising a pair of parallel intersecting bores, a. pair:- of intermeshed feeding worms rotatablyiournalled in said bores, means, for rotating said worms, a perforated plate across; the outputend of said chamber, a knife drivingly engaged with each of said Worms and adapted to sweep over a surface of said plate and co-acting. means-on said worms and on said knives for. preventing, either of said knives; from being engaged, with the wrong; one of, saidiworms.

16. In a machine for comminuting. material, in combination, a chamber havingv two longitudinally intersecting bores, a worm rotatably' jourdissimilar socket in the end of the other of said worms, a rotatable knifehaving means drivingly engaged in one of said sockets, a reversely rotatable knife having means drivingly engaged in the other of said sockets, said driving engagement means being dissimilar to fit the respective dissimilar sockets, a erforated plate across the output end of said-chamber and adjustable means for clamping said perforated plate against said knives whereby said knives sweep over a surface of said perforated plate.

17. A perforated plate adapted to be removably a machine for chopping meat, said plate having perforations distributed substantially throughout two overlapping non-concentric annular areas, the remainder of said plate including the centers of said annular areas being free of perforations suitable for cutting meat or journaling shafts.

18. A rotatable knife for a machine for choping socket in means employed torotate said knife.

19. In a machine for chopping meat, in combination, a feedingchamber comprising a pair of parallel longitudinally intersecting smooth-walled bores, a pair of intermeshing feeding worms rotatably journaled-in said bores, a perforated plate across one end of said chamber, said plate being at'right angles to the axes ofsaid feeding worms and at the output end of said worms, a rotatable knife driven by each of said worms and adapted to sweepover the surface of said'plate and means for synchronously rotating said worms.

20. A meat chopping machine comprising, in combination, an elongated chambercomprising .a pair of parallel intersecting smooth-walled bores, a pair of intermeshed feeding worms, one of said worms being rotatably journaled in each of said held at the outlet end of the feeding chamber of ping meat adapted to be rotated while D s d against a perforated plate so as to shear off meat pressed into perforations .of said plate, said knife,

comprising a plurality of blades adapted to bear against and sweep over said plate and an integral axial portion extending from the plane of the cut& ting edges of said blades and terminating ina noncircular, portion adapted to'be received in a'mat holding a stub axle upon which a knife may be journaled.

bores, a rotatable knife driven by each of said worms, a perforated plate in the output end of said. chamber adjacent said knives, means for individually adjustably pressing said knives against the face of said plate and means for rotating said worms.

21. A perforated plate adapted to be removably held at the outlet end of the feeding chamber of a machine for chopping meat, said plate having perforations distributed substantially throughout two overlapping, non-concentric circular areas and having a non-circular perforation at the center of each of the circular areas for receiving and CHARLES 0. MARSI IALL. 

